History

The early history involves human settlement roughly one millennium
before present. Subsequent human
overpopulation and resultant deforestation led to collapse of the human
society. Archaeological evidence of the earlier habitation consists
of the moai themselves as well as the pollen and fossil records.
Through these records, scientists have come to understand the role
of a now extinct Rapa Nui Palm, which
offered food, fuel and transport for the early
settlers.Chile first declared the island a National Park in 1935, and on 22 March 1996
UNESCO designated the island a World Heritage Site.
Park boundaries have since varied on several occasions, to return
land to the islanders.